Hi all,

After some serious lurking I've decided to post a bio so that I could
ask

the requisite newbie saw id question.  I became aware of the Oldtools
list

when I recently started researching tool construction and fabrication on
the

'net.  About 95% of the websites I browsed had references to the
Oldtools

list.  I thought it was a bit odd at first, but after lurking for a bit
I realized

that all of these guys were Galoots.  You all have excellent websites
btw;

some for info and some for humor ("Daddy Has A Saw Problem".)  I've

thoroughly enjoyed browsing through the archives, as I find that the
nuggets

of knowledge and humor are nicely interspersed.

Some info about me:  I'm 23, live in PRINY (a very appropriate acronym

btw), I'm a mechanical engineer at Cornell University, where I got my

degree in 2002.  Been working wood for about 15 years with my dad's

50/50 set of Normite/oldtools (don't own anything tailed myself.)  I'm

currently enjoying the trip down the so-called "slippery slope" as I
head out

on a tri-county tool hunt this weekend.  My tool collec. uh, group of
users,

isn't quite up to snuff yet, so I'm mostly trying to build my own
(student

loans limit the tool budget ya know).  Current projects include an old

woman's tooth router, scraper and burnisher, dovetail saw, and the oh-so

necessary workbench.  Fortunately for me, these myriad projects require

tools that I don't have as well.  My lovely SO of 5 years is very
supportive

of my tool hunting and using pursuits.  I'm even able to gloat that she
and I

have made a most agreeable arrangement.  She's well aware of my

intentions to drop some serious bank on an engagement ring and propose

to her sometime soon.  She's also aware that saving for a ring puts a

hurtin' on my tool expenditures.  So my beautiful, wonderful,
forward-thinking

SO has agreed to buy me an "engagement plane."  Needless to say I've
directed

her to the MofA's website and dropped some choice hints regarding YB
infills

and low model and type number Stanleys.

Now, on to the requisite newbie question:  I recently acquired an
interesting saw.

It has a Disston D-7 handle, but only has 3 nuts, the typical "Warranted
Superior" medallion, and appears to be a ship saw.  The etch is very
crisp and reads, "Sam

Sickles Cast Steel".  On the left side of the etch is a tree with
several pruned

branches.  Anyone ever hear of Sam Sickles?  I couldn't find anything in
the

archives or on Google.

Thanks in advance for the info.

-Andy

>
> loans limit the tool budget ya know).  Current projects include an old
> 
> woman's tooth router, scraper and burnisher, dovetail saw, and the oh-so
>                                              ^^^^^^^^^^^^^
You're making this?  You _are_ energetic!  Although if you have access
to a machine shop that would help considerably.  You would really like
to know that the "Independence" saw sold by Lie-Nielson was originated
by galoots Pete Taran (vintagesaws.com) and Patrick Leach
(superiortools.com) and were originally made in small batches and sold
online, check the archives around summer/fall '96 if they go back that
far.  There have also been discussions about the steel and how to make
the brass back if you don't want to totally reinvent the wheel...
"ITnn" in peoples' .sigs refers to the serial number of their saw (I am
#72).

> necessary workbench.  Fortunately for me, these myriad projects require
Check out Bob Keyes' good quick cheap bench (I think his ISP is
terraclavis).  You don't have to have the big vice, I am making a
slightly wider version (30x66 2 layer plywood top) with a 6' version
of Dunbar's bench in mind and currently use 2 portable vices.  I
will have a couple Kirby style planing stops, the front top edge
even with the legs so I can insert a couple pegs to hold 8/4 planks
9" wide at a reasonable height for jointing (Windsor chair seat stock)
and use the portable vises for drawknife/spokeshave work.  I am a bit
tired of chasing the bench when doing serious planing.  The top size
will fit in a 6' pickup bed with a liner.

Or consider the folding bench in Underhill's Woodworker's Apprentice.
A "nice" version slightly longer so offset legs can fold flat without
a tool tray is in my plans for craft shows, and for you could be a 
sideboard in a honeymoon apartment when you aren't woodworking...

> 
> tools that I don't have as well.  My lovely SO of 5 years is very
> supportive
> 
> of my tool hunting and using pursuits.  I'm even able to gloat that she
> and I
> 
> have made a most agreeable arrangement.  She's well aware of my
> 
> intentions to drop some serious bank on an engagement ring and propose
> 
> to her sometime soon.  She's also aware that saving for a ring puts a
> 
> hurtin' on my tool expenditures.  So my beautiful, wonderful,
> forward-thinking
> 
> SO has agreed to buy me an "engagement plane."  Needless to say I've
> directed
> 
> her to the MofA's website and dropped some choice hints regarding YB
> infills
> 
> and low model and type number Stanleys.
> 
Congratulations!  you seem to have negotiated the "choose someone
sympathetic to your hobbies" shoals well, does this paragon also
have making things type hobbies?  There have been discussions before
about how much better things go when SWMBO also understands the lust
for equipment and stash (ask any quilter!)

If you are considering some furniture for the future, I play in
the Society for Creative Anachronism and we have a lot of knock
down furniture designs for camping also suitable for the young
couple moving a lot at first.  Ping me for suggestions if interested.

Welcome to the support group from hell!

Esther the listmom emerita an hour NW of you in Rochester

Esther Heller
bench built Windsor chairs
galoot@l...